A North Texas couple who once appeared on a reality television show has been convicted in federal court for orchestrating a massive pyramid scheme that prosecutors say preyed on thousands of people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inside the Court Case
Marlon and LaShonda Moore began promoting BINT as early June 2020 until June 2021, according to the federal complaint. They were arrested and formally charged on Nov. 8, 2023, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
The Moores were found guilty by a federal jury in Sherman, Texas, of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering following a four-day trial. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the couple defrauded more than 10,000 people out of over $25 million through a program they called “Blessings in No Time” (BINT). Sentencing dates have not yet been scheduled, but the convictions carry the possibility of a lengthy sentence in federal prison.
Prosecutors said the Moores ran the scheme from their home in Prosper, Texas, marketing BINT largely within the African-American community. Participants were promised guaranteed returns and refunds if they were dissatisfied. However, according to federal authorities, the program was essentially a classic pyramid scheme that relied on the constant recruitment of new participants to pay earlier dupes.
The indictment said the Moores made false and misleading statements about how BINT worked, unlawfully enriched themselves, and attempted to conceal the flow of money generated by the scheme.
Participants were typically required to pay at least $1,400 to join. Victims testified that they were placed on so-called “playing boards” and encouraged to recruit others in order to advance and receive payouts. Many said they never received any money back. Some families reported investing thousands of dollars.
The couple appeared on the OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) reality television show “Family or Fiancé” in 2020. During the show, engaged couples facing pushback from their families move in together for three days to confront conflicts before deciding whether to wed.
In 2021, the Texas Attorney General’s Office filed a civil lawsuit against the Moores, accusing them of deceptive trade practices. That case resulted in a $10.76 million civil judgment against them in 2023.
